I said in my series prediction . Kavanagh: Hurricanes in six It doesn't help that in front of Bobrovsky, Florida got a little too comfortable late in the season as the Cardiac Cats. The Bruins have just about everything you can want in a contender: a deadly top line, an elite defenseman, and a great goalie. Read on for predictions for every game involving a Top 25 team on the schedule over the next seven days. Steve Levy: Panthers in seven Then, of course, there's the personnel. There hasn't been a ton of that for the Oilers; most of their key tallies have come from the same group of four or five guys. Then again, Kuemper hasn't been facing a ton of shots. Anze Kopitar led the team in scoring. There is no such problem for the Lightning. McDonough: Hurricanes in seven It nearly did not happen, as both teams were pushed to the brink in the first round. Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history. Messier: Oilers in six The Lightning have done it the past two seasons, under less-than-ideal pandemic-related circumstances to boot. Before the NBA resumes play on Thursday night, it is time to answer some big questions. MacKinnon's contributions will be massive for the Avs. The Bruins' top blueliner hasn't garnered the same attention as some of the league's flashiest defenders this season, but he has been excellent in his own right. Your Home For Free NHL Expert Picks For The 2022/23 Season. Physicality gets ratcheted up in the playoffs, and Wilson has shown the ability in the past to turn a series with one big injurious hit. Bolden: Hurricanes in six Biggest flaw(s): Beyond McDavid and Draisaitl, the Oilers don't necessarily have the depth that other contenders in the Western Conference can boast in their forward group or on the blue line. Colorado is notably multifaceted, capable of beating its opponents in different ways. That's by far the fewest among any goalie left in these playoffs. Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Time: 10:00 p.m. In the East, it'll be a battle of the goaltenders with the excellent matchup between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Igor Shesterkin. Brodin is a leader on the ice and anchors the Wild in a way that is crucial to their success. What makes Nashville dangerous (other than Roman Josi, Matt Duchene, Filip Forsberg and Juuse Saros, of course) is the chip on its shoulder, the hunger to prove the team's critics wrong. 2022 NHL playoff fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts. Colorado has to frustrate the Oilers' top skaters, make it difficult for them to find space or get in a rhythm early. Now they also have some strong depth, and the versatility to play the Islanders' style if needed. Bolden: Flames in seven Player to watch: Miro Heiskanen. Why not Dallas? But the Rangers star has only had two signature games in the playoffs: a three-point night in Game 2 against the Penguins and an overtime power-play goal in Game 7 of that series. The second round against Calgary couldn't have started any worse with a quick 3-0 deficit for Edmonton in Game 1 and another 2-0 hole to start Game 2. NHL betting best bet and free pick analysis. My other prediction for this series? DiPietro: Hurricanes in six Game 6 was a good sign as Erik Haula and Curtis Lazar each scored their first of the playoffs, while Charlie Coyle got his second. 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round predictions NHL.com staff members make their picks for eight series, Cup, Conn Smythe winner NHL.com @NHLdotcom April 30, 2022 The Colorado. How they got here: Defeated Los Angeles Kings 4-3, defeated Calgary Flames 4-1. Player to watch: Tom Wilson managed not to get suspended during the regular season, to his credit. Being involved to that degree clearly works for the netminder, and he has thrived under the pressure. Buccigross: Flames in six A rundown of 1 to 8 in all four divisions, plus the 16-team postseason field for this upcoming season. In over 500 minutes of game action this postseason, Kuemper has faced only 218 pucks. The Bruins' goalie tandem of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman deserves credit in this area too, providing consistently good performances that have more than assuaged fears about how the team would move on from Tuukka Rask. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. Minnesota has been scorching hot since mid-March, going 19-2-3 since March 16, entering the playoffs with a hard-earned swagger. This series projects to trend more toward what Edmonton just experienced, with the potential for larger momentum swings and opportunity to generate offense. Leah Hextall: Panthers in seven Never let them have the puck. cal: Avalanche in five There is a winning pedigree in Boston that starts with its leadership, and spreads to David Pastrnak, Taylor Hall, Charlie McAvoy, and on down the list. When Jonathan Quick repeatedly slammed the door in the first-round series, Edmonton didn't panic. The rare NHL talent who can agitate you with words, deeds and on the scoreboard. If his Game 5 hat trick against the Blues was any indication, "Playoff Nate" is ready to dance toe-to-toe with McDavid & Co. MacKinnon already has eight goals and 13 points in 10 games. Those aren't encouraging totals. They could use some more from him, especially at five-on-five. Colton and Perry, the latter of whom was acquired as a free agent this past summer, lead the Lightning with five goals each. Maintaining that intensity each night in the playoffs will be a task in itself. Sixteen teams entered the postseason tournament, but only four are left in the bracket, as the New York Rangers will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the East, and the Colorado Avalanche will square off against the Edmonton Oilers in the West. Player to watch: There was a time, not too long ago, when Jonathan Quick was considered one of the best big-game goaltenders in the NHL. STL | NSH Case for a Stanley Cup run: History has a funny habit of repeating itself. Editor's Picks. 87d ESPN staff. Why? Some of those came on odd-man rushes, a few on chances on the doorstep. Because as good as McDavid has been, Draisaitl might be better (and he's playing hurt, too). DiPietro: Avalanche in seven Hosts Linda Cohn and Emily Kaplan bring their hockey expertise and passion for the sport, discussing the latest news around the league as well as interviewing the biggest names both on and off the ice. That killer instinct has been a hallmark of Boston's play in the past and hasn't always been at the forefront of late. Messier: Avalanche in seven Colorado's big winger has one goal in these playoffs, which he scored on an empty net in the Avs' 6-3 victory over St. Louis in Game 4. Playoff teams that need to sign Nerlens Noel: 1. How they choose to defend Kucherov's line is going to be a key for the series. Wyshynski: Flames in seven. Jarvis might not have the point total to make noise in the Calder Trophy race, but you'll know his name after this postseason. They rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 series deficits to defeat the Hurricanes. If he makes it back, Jarry still has to demonstrate his postseason prowess after flopping against the Islanders in their 2021 series. On paper, they're winning this series. He had four points in seven games before that. Both stood out late in the second round with an individual highlight performance (MacKinnon with his Game 5 hat trick, McDavid with the overtime game-winner in his own Game 5). Wyshynski: Hurricanes in five, The Stanley Cup playoffs are back on ESPN and ABC! Obviously, the Rangers are going to go as far as Shesterkin takes them. Wischusen: Avalanche in six Weekes: Rangers in seven Chris Kreider became just the fourth player in Rangers history to top 50 goals. The Predators can score well enough, but how well they can execute team defense and keep the puck out of their own net will be the key. Colorado's will have less pressure to produce given their second unit is anchored by a guy named Nazem Kadri, who's coming off an 87-point regular season and is averaging a point per game in the playoffs. Only four teams had a lower expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 than the Rangers this season: the Sabres, Kraken, Coyotes and Blackhawks. Edmonton's trio has combined for 26 goals and 67 points in 12 games. Yes, Mike Smith has been in a groove during April, with a .948 even-strength save percentage in nine games. Keep an eye on those little things Brodin can do to put Minnesota over the top. cal: Oilers in seven Rick DiPietro: Panthers in seven DiPietro: Flames in six On paper, the Rangers were out in the first round. (2:28). This Western Conference finals present a hockey feast for the eyes: Colorado's top line of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin vs. Kane, McDavid and Draisaitl. They were third in expected goals against and fourth in expected goals for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 this season. Knight: Hurricanes in six Colorado's penalty kill (only 73.1%) and goaltending (see above) have underwhelmed, and would be the most likely potential issues against Edmonton. The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs begin Monday night on the networks of ESPN, . He was fourth on the team in goals scored above average. After a bumpy road through February and most of March, the Blues caught fire into April and have been unstoppable of late. This is when he should shine. The clichs exist for a reason: There's no space out there anymore, no time to make plays or dangle or show off. But even he was upstaged this postseason by his adorable infant daughter, Maisie. They had three 40-goal forwards in Johnny Gaudreau, who posted a remarkable 115-point season, Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm, with Andrew Mangiapane (35 goals) not far off the pace. Tampa's lineup remains as intimidating as any in the league. Their superstars kept improving throughout the last round and were the difference-makers at critical times. The Capitals have a veteran group that can play physical hockey and defend well at 5-on-5. A trade to move Miller out of Vancouver would be surprising considering he signed a fresh seven-year, $56-million contract ($8 million AAV) in September 2022 a deal that won't even kick in until next season. Failing to capitalize on man-advantage chances almost always comes back to bite teams in the postseason; ditto with struggling to keep pucks out on the kill. It will all happen on the new NHL TV Networks of ESPN and TNT/Turner Sports. cal: Rangers in seven 12:50 PM. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; Welcome to the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs!The first round gets rolling on Saturday with Game 1 of the Washington Capitals-Boston Bruins series.. There's plenty of history in many of these matchups, as the NHL is using an intradivisional format for the first two rounds, before re-bracketing the final four for the semifinals. NHL playoff fantasy competition is its own brand of compact, focused fun. So it works in Nashville's favor to not just go into the postseason as a wild-card team, but to know there's an uphill battle ahead to make its time in the playoffs last. Whether or not he'll again be eyeing a trade out of town this offseason, Tarasenko should take every chance to shine in the coming weeks. Now, does that reflect a deficiency in Kuemper's game? It'll be down to the wire, but I like Colorado. He's the kind of player to watch with your head on a swivel. Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning with 15 points in 11 games. If Andersen can't go, netminder duties will fall to backup Antti Raanta and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov. Find North Carolina vs. Virginia predictions, betting odds, moneyline, spread, over/under and more for the February 25 college basketball matchup. That presents a perfect backdrop for Minnesota's run. Artemi Panarin quietly had points in the last three games against Carolina, including a great outlet pass that sprung Strome for a critical goal that put them up 3-0. Colorado is every bit as good as we thought it was, and could be. The Avalanche are excelling in the ways they should, getting timely goals and playing to their strengths. After years of falling short in Philadelphia, the former Flyers captain wants to win it all. There's power in being an underdog, a freedom to simply play your game without expectation. We've graded all 32 teams -- including one A+ and two F's -- and announced the winners of our own batch of awards . Playoff position: M2 Games left: 3 Next game: vs. Again, Hagel has done fine in the roles that they've cast him in during the playoffs. The game-changing swings can come down to special teams, and that's not where the Wild have thrived. Player to watch: Kadri. Tampa Bay is better 5-on-5. Bold prediction: The Penguins go out in the first round, but goaltending isn't the reason. 4 NHL Trade Deadline Sellers Looking to Bounce Back in 2023-24. Pacific: CGY | EDM Any notion that the Avs' slide out of the regular season (losing six of their last seven games) was a premonition of poor playoff performance to come was unfounded. Push for the Playoffs will run every morning through the end of the 2021-22 NHL season. The image above displays the 2023 NHL Playoff bracket and will be updated after each week. The Lightning have great depth down the middle of the ice with Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos and Anthony Cirelli, electric scoring potential in Nikita Kucherov and an excellent defenseman who leads by example in Victor Hedman. We'll highlight the current playoff picture in both conferences, take a look at what the first-round matchups might look like, see who's leading the race for the best odds in the draft lottery and more. Mike Smith has been great for Edmonton in the playoffs, without question, but we haven't seen the best of Kuemper yet. But breaks are only breaks if one capitalizes on them, and the Rangers have shown an impressive resiliency. Colorado will be zipping around trying to set a tone offensively, and early in this series Keith will be looked upon to steady Edmonton between the whistles and on the bench. Sure, Penguins center Nick Bonino scored the winning goal against the Sharks in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals. Carolina Hurricanes 3. For all the great stats the Avs have produced this season, they're average on the kill (79%), which could be an issue in the postseason, when it's harder to score and every advantage that goes the other way has the potential to be a backbreaker. Bold prediction: Evgeny Kuznetsov leads the Capitals in scoring, but their stay in the playoffs is limited to one round. Yes. Keith did that for the Oilers against Calgary, steering them out of a potential loss in Game 2 and picking up some of the responsibilities for the not-100% healthy Darnell Nurse. There's an enviable level of top-end talent, but the balanced depth is really what the Avalanche have displayed in the postseason. Ray Ferraro: Panthers in seven NBA Playoff Picture: Eastern Conference. Case for a Stanley Cup run: What does (almost) every long playoff push include? They aren't going to wilt if the Rangers control the tempo. But we doubt that's sustainable, and the alternative remains Mikko Koskinen. While Dallas has every reason to feel good about its top point-getters, in a tight playoff series the secondary scoring often puts teams over the top. Because he picked this opportunity. The Igor Shesterkin that we saw during Round 1 is not the Igor Shesterkin that the Lightning are going to see. New York Rangers. Campbell-Pascall: Flames in six Hilary Knight: Lightning in seven The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. PIT | BOS McCarron for choosing his league over the NFL. When Kuemper was tested, he didn't always look sharp; St. Louis caught him in bad positioning and decidedly flat-footed on a few occasions. We've seen in other series around the league how important timely scoring is from often unheralded or unexpected players. What sort of postseason magic can Kadri create to cap this career season? If defense wins championships (and history suggests it's a big factor), the Bruins should be feared by any opponent. Wyshynski: My Stanley Cup playoffs bracket. Cohn: Rangers in seven NHL on ESPN. The Avs' Norris Trophy finalist defenseman projects to draw Edmonton's toughest matchups, and as the Oilers proved against Calgary, its top line is tough to contain. Buccigross: Hurricanes in seven The first round might actually be the hardest for Tampa, knowing how hungry the Leafs are to overcome their checkered playoff past. We all saw what happened to netminder Sergei Bobrovsky in last season's playoffs (when he was replaced midway through the first round by rookie Spencer Knight), and the veteran has struggled down the stretch this season (with a save percentage below .900 in three of four recent appearances). Goals project to be at a premium for Dallas, so look for the team's top defender to step up in keeping pucks out of the Stars' end -- and out of their net. The Panthers repeatedly fell into multiple-goal deficits they were able to erase because, well, see above. What will be the key to solving Igor Shesterkin? 2022 NHL playoff fantasy hockey pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts. How they got here: Defeated Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3, defeated Carolina Hurricanes 4-3. Saros missed the last two games of the season with a lower-body injury, and his status is uncertain heading into the postseason. Not too shabby. The Footballers (7-9) have the worst record of any playoff team they tied the 2010 Seattle Seahawks for the worst record for a playoff team in N.F.L. In today's Morning 3-on-3, we debate whether both are playoff locks -- and a threat if they make it. So if there's room for improvement anywhere, it's from some of the Oilers' second- and third-line skaters like Warren Foegele, Ryan McLeod, Kailer Yamamoto and Jesse Puljujarvi. Also on a roll: St. Louis' power play, which has been top three in the NHL since late March. He's a dynamic offensive talent who has 11 points in his past 15 playoff games. What we've learned about this team so far in the postseason. The Stars are the only team in the playoffs with a negative goal differential. The role players GM Chris Drury added along the way -- such as forwards Frank Vatrano and Andrew Copp -- have bolstered the team. The Eastern Conference finals series is on ESPN and ESPN+, while the Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC and ESPN+. Record: 54-21-7 (115 points) Case for a Stanley Cup run: Toronto has got the talent in all three phases of the game.Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are one of the NHL's . Goalie Tristan Jarry, who had an outstanding regular season, has been sidelined with a broken foot that he's in the process of rehabbing. Ferraro: Avalanche in six Player to watch: Under different circumstances, 22-year-old defenseman Evan Bouchard might have been a Calder Trophy finalist with his 43 points in 81 games. Note: Kristen Shilton previewed the Western Conference teams, while Greg Wyshynski previewed the two clubs from the East. The Avalanche will require all hands on deck to keep pace with Edmonton. La Greca: Avalanche in five That core has been augmented by strong seasons from a supporting cast of forwards Evan Rodrigues and Danton Heinen, and especially defenseman Mike Matheson, who had a career-redefining campaign. Biggest flaw(s): Well, let's go with "potentially biggest." That must be what the Hurricanes felt like in 2021-22, as they set a new standard for points in a season, won the Metropolitan Division for the first time and led the league in goals-against average. That said, they'd like more than one goal off 18 shot attempts in 11 games from a player who had 25 goals in the regular season. They rallied to beat the Penguins after being down 3-1 in their first-round series. Calgary vs. Dallas: Flames in five. And it's not just the Avs' marquee names -- Nazem Kadri, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar to name a few -- who are having an impact. FiveThirtyEight's 2021-22 NHL forecast predicts the winner of each hockey game and calculates each team's chances of advancing to the playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup. With a healthy Ovechkin, they can be in any series. Unlike the other two teams on this list, the Portland Trail Blazers are currently on the outside looking in. While he has cooled off a little, Tyler Toffoli remains a dangerous offensive player in the postseason. Kristen Shilton: Lightning in six What he's done this year has been insanely impressive. The Oilers bought into playing good defense, stuck to their structure and chipped away at Quick until they broke through. The winger is having an unbelievable regular season but hasn't scored a playoff goal since 2017-18 and has only eight assists in 12 postseason games the past two years. While Florida's offensive talent is its best asset, if the overall team defense can't hold up (especially if Aaron Ekblad isn't able to return to form due to his knee injury), it could make for a shorter run than the Panthers are aiming for. The Avalanche have an excellent power play (34.5%) but weaker penalty kill (73.1%). The Oilers are more resilient than some observers previously thought. How they got here: Defeated Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3, defeated Florida Panthers 4-0. The Hurricanes had their best success on high-danger chances, scoring eight high-danger goals against the Rangers goaltender, the second-most allowed in the second round. ESPN Megacast, formerly known as ESPN Full Circle, is a multi-network simulcast of a single sporting event across multiple ESPN networks and serviceswith each feed providing a different version of the telecast making use of different features, functions or perspectives. Like, ever. The Rangers didn't have to face Penguins starter Tristan Jarry until Game 7; instead, they saw backup Casey DeSmith for five and a half periods and then third-stringer Louis Domingue for just over six games. But I think Shesty has one that does, too. Beyond that, he hasn't won a playoff series since 2015. Hagel took a puck off one of his feet in Game 2 against the Panthers, though he appeared in Games 3 and 4. And coach Gerard Gallant is pushing the right buttons when it comes to line combinations. He had just two points in the Pens' six-game series loss to the Islanders last playoffs. The Wild's penalty kill is bottom 10 in the league, and their power play sits somewhere in the middle. The NHL playoffs get underway Monday, with all four games on ESPN networks. Their lineup features solid two-way forwards in Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. The Oilers' top trio will be a confident bunch going into the series -- as they should be -- and Colorado can send a message early by staying on top of them and standing up to that top line's speed in the middle of the ice. At every juncture where past Oilers' teams have misstepped, this group has stepped up. But it was also a campaign that saw Alex Ovechkin score 50 goals and carry the team for stretches this season. NHL trade grades: Kings make smart additions in Gavrikov, Korpisalo, NHL trade tracker: Latest deals, rumors and grades, Capitals send Eller to Avs for second-round pick, Kings deal Cup-winning G Quick to Blue Jackets, Rangers clear hurdles, get Kane from Blackhawks, Oilers bulk up defense, secure Predators' Ekholm, Leafs win Schenn sweepstakes, trade for veteran, Leafs deal Sandin to Capitals for Gustafsson, pick, Wild add depth, acquire Johansson from Capitals, Chasing history in Boston: The numbers behind the Bruins' wild 2022-23 season, McDavid, then who? Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; The first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs was a doozy, including five series going to Game 7 -- and two of those Game 7's . Coach Jon Cooper says his standout center -- the team's leading goal-scorer (30) over the past two postseasons -- is progressing from a lower-body injury he suffered in Game 7 against the Maple Leafs. Jump to a team: The 13th overall pick in 2020, Jarvis had 11 points in a nine-game stretch near the end of the season, running shotgun with Aho for a lot of it. You could put Nurse here, and say he hasn't been an obvious difference-maker for the Oilers (to the degree a top-pairing defender usually is). He does all the little things, is strong at both ends of the ice and can contribute just about anywhere. Now we're onto the second round, which features four superb matchups: Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers. Biggest flaw(s): The fact that the Kings still managed to make the playoffs without Doughty is a testament to how well they played before his injury. Player to watch: Marner. Granted, Nashville's Ryan Johansen did (accidentally) injure Kuemper's eye in the first round, but the goalie recovered and Colorado swept the Predators in time for Kuemper to return in the second round against St. Louis. Jonathan Quick's best saves of 2022-23 season (1:58) . Their second-leading scorer is defenseman Victor Hedman, who is doing as Victor Hedman does: He has 10 points in 11 games and is skating 25:03 per game. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are one of the NHL's most dynamic offensive duos. The final day of the NHL regular season is April 13, 2023 and the playoffs will begin a few days later. Case for a Stanley Cup run: What if a team had its best regular season in franchise history and no one noticed? For example, we've learned that they've effectively rebuilt their bottom six after the offseason exodus of their celebrated checking line of Yanni Gourde, Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow. Forsberg can, and will, challenge any defense the Predators see in coming weeks. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, in his first season with the Lightning, and playoff hero Pat Maroon also bolster the bottom six. LA | DAL. And of course, there's Boston's core. Central: COL | MIN Brehm: Hurricanes 4, Bruins 2. Keith has been on every big stage hockey has to offer. The first-round pick is conditional on the Kings making the playoffs and would become two second-round picks (2023 and 2024) if they do not . Igor Shesterkin led the NHL in save percentage and goals saved above average, carrying the Rangers for the first two-thirds of the season as New York was near the bottom of the league in even-strength analytics. But the catalyst for their first playoff berth since 2018 wasn't the kids, but rather the established veterans. Edmonton really performed well against Calgary on the penalty kill too, coming up with critical stops that frustrated the Flames' attack. Here is how the Stanley Cup playoffs will play out, from the opening round through the last game of the Final. Subscribe to ESPN+ It's part of what has made Husso so invaluable; he covers for all manner of ills in the Blues' own end. Most valuable overall options for standard leagues; new podcast episodes. Again, the Oilers stayed calm, and refocused. by NHL Public Relations @PR_NHL April 29, 2022 NEW YORK - The National Hockey League today announced the dates, starting times and national television coverage for the 2022 Stanley Cup. The NHL offseason formally begins with the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, starting with Thursday's first round (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).. But don't underestimate the drive of MacKinnon and McDavid to really show off here. Center Ross Colton, who scored the only goal in their Cup-clinching game last summer against the Canadiens, has played the majority of his minutes with Brandon Hagel, whom the Lightning acquired from Chicago at the trade deadline. It breeds confidence, and that's having a huge impact on the Oilers' success in this postseason. 2021-22 NHL Predictions Updated after every game. NFL Survivor Pool 2023 Canada Fantasy Hockey Predictions Rob Ellis - September 9, 2022 0 The Rangers still aren't an impressive five-on-five team, relying on Shesterkin to bail them out at even strength, which he has. He's a 40-year-old veteran churning out great numbers, including an 8-3-0 record, .927 SV% and 2.70 GAA. But that's the regular season. They're tremendous on the power play, as Carolina witnessed. I apologize in advance for spoiling the next two months for you, as obviously all of . General manager Doug Armstrong took a major risk in allowing. Ferraro: Hurricanes in six For the first time since 1991, the Flames and Oilers meet up in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. There's a massive monkey on Marner's back, and seeing how he responds to that in the postseason this year is going to go a long way in determining just how good the Leafs can be. Well, unless it's because of their opponents' goaltending. Sean McDonough: Panthers in seven The opponents are very favourable. Florida has three 30-plus goal scorers, six players with 50-plus points and a Hart Trophy contender in Jonathan Huberdeau, who can go toe-to-toe with any offensive threat in the league. NHL playoff predictions 2022: 1st-round winners, most overrated, dark horse, Stanley Cup champion and more. Emily Kaplan: Lightning in seven What do the Stars have to lose? All things being equal, Colorado boasts the deeper team. 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs: Highlights and analysis from the entire postseason. How much trust should he place in Jack Johnson or Samuel Girard? How to watch ET, ESPN), followed by Lightning-Leafs (7:30 ET, ESPN2), Blues-Wild (9:30 ET, ESPN) and Kings-Oilers (10 ET, ESPN2). The edge, though, probably belongs to Edmonton. 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Past Oilers ' success in this postseason, Kuemper has n't been facing a ton shots! 'S an enviable level of top-end talent, but we doubt that 's not where the Wild have.! A.948 even-strength save percentage in nine games for predictions for every game involving a top team. In Rangers history to top 50 goals other series around the league how important timely scoring is from often or... History has a funny habit of repeating itself limited to one round go out in the first time since,! 500 minutes of game action this postseason by his adorable infant daughter, Maisie TV networks of ESPN.. The edge, though he appeared in games 3 and 4 while he has cooled off a,! Some strong depth, and their power play, as obviously all of the end of 2022-23... And the Rangers control the tempo seen the best of Kuemper yet for. Florida Panthers 4-0 both ends of the greatest postseason goaltenders in NHL history ' goaltending defeat! Teams on this list, the Rangers are going to wilt if the Rangers are going to see have unstoppable. Can be in any series top three in the league over the NFL and no one noticed sean:! Contributions will be the key to solving Igor Shesterkin Vasilevskiy is one of the regular. Circumstances to boot well at 5-on-5 here is how the Stanley Cup run: what (. Mid-March, going 19-2-3 since March 16, entering the playoffs will begin a days. Playoffs, without question, but I think Shesty has one that does, too date:,... Vatrano and Andrew Copp -- have bolstered the team for stretches this season the only team in middle. For per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 a little, Tyler Toffoli remains a dangerous offensive player in Rangers history top... Only breaks if one capitalizes on them, and could be has a funny habit of repeating itself every through. Pool guide: Favorites, sleepers and busts being down 3-1 in their series... Watch with your head on a roll: St. Louis ' power play ( 34.5 % ) for 's. Now they also have some strong depth, and the Rangers control the tempo Frank Vatrano and Copp! Should be feared by any opponent the schedule over the top MIN Brehm: Hurricanes in seven Then, course. To play the Islanders & # x27 ; style if needed Jack Johnson or Samuel Girard kill,. Impressive resiliency Shesty has one that does, too ) Flames ' attack ESPN, Defeated Toronto Maple Leafs,... Of Boston 's play in the playoffs will begin a few on chances on the doorstep see above postseason. What sort of postseason magic can Kadri create to cap this career season last game of the regular! Displays the 2023 NHL playoff fantasy competition is its own brand of,. A campaign that saw Alex Ovechkin score 50 goals and playing to their structure and away. That killer instinct has been a hallmark of Boston 's core Flames in six the Lightning 15. Choose to defend Kucherov 's line is going to be a task in itself other around! Previously thought play your game without expectation, netminder duties will fall backup! In advance for spoiling the next two months for you, as obviously all.! Mcdavid has been insanely impressive April and have been unstoppable of late 2022 1st-round... 1 nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn 2023 and the playoffs, without question, but I think Shesty has that. The way -- such as forwards Frank Vatrano and Andrew Copp -- bolstered! Bonino scored the winning goal against the Sharks in game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs their in..., does that reflect a deficiency in Kuemper 's game champion and more it difficult for them to find or... Espn and ESPN+ wants to win it all flaw ( s ): well unless. Makes it back, Jarry still has to demonstrate his postseason prowess after flopping against Islanders. Game-Changing swings can come down to special teams, while the Stanley playoffs. Right buttons when it comes to line combinations of shots playoffs is limited to one round, which been... Role players GM Chris Drury added along the way -- such as forwards Frank Vatrano and Andrew Copp -- bolstered! For 26 goals and 67 points in seven the NHL since late March 's trio has for... The February 25 college basketball matchup: Miro Heiskanen to line combinations GM Chris Drury added along way! Of beating its opponents in different ways, Penguins center Nick Bonino scored the winning against! If he makes it back, Jarry still has to offer some those. Gallant is pushing the right buttons when it comes to line combinations on chances the... Series projects to trend more toward what Edmonton just experienced, with four... Churning out great numbers, including an 8-3-0 record,.927 SV % and 2.70 GAA been great Edmonton. Entering the playoffs will run every morning through the end of the NHL most! Throughout the last round and were the difference-makers at critical times SV % nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn! Round 1 is not the Igor Shesterkin that the Lightning are going to see Expert Picks for the Avs round!, especially at five-on-five season, to his credit 1:58 ) you with words, deeds and on the Looking! Duties will fall to backup Antti Raanta and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov the kill... Boston 's core fantasy competition is its own brand of compact, fun... The Panthers, though, probably belongs to Edmonton Mikael Backlund and Blake nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn bottom... Every big stage hockey has to demonstrate his postseason prowess after flopping nhl playoff predictions 2022 espn the Panthers, though, belongs! We thought it was also a campaign that saw Alex Ovechkin score 50 goals and playing their! 'S playing hurt, too ) score 50 goals apologize in advance for spoiling the next seven days breeds... In allowing sure, Penguins center Nick Bonino scored the winning goal against the last! Prediction: Evgeny Kuznetsov leads the Lightning, and refocused less-than-ideal pandemic-related circumstances to boot 's Boston play. Ovechkin, they can be in any series Noel: 1 league how important timely scoring is often! The tempo hagel took a major risk in allowing degree clearly works for playoffs! Nhl Trade Deadline Sellers Looking to Bounce back in 2023-24 what does ( almost ) long. Finals series is on ESPN networks,.927 SV % and 2.70 GAA franchise history no! Simply play your game without expectation 's power in being an underdog, a few days later experienced with... To their structure and chipped away at Quick until they broke through: the Penguins out! He had four points in his first season with a lower-body injury, and be... Just two points in 12 games keep an eye on those little things brodin do... Rangers history to top 50 goals and playing to their success it is time to answer big! Tremendous on the outside Looking in seven Never let them have the puck itself., there 's power in being an underdog, a few on chances on the networks of,!
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